Pannier rack for racing bike

Hi,

I am riding from london to paris and I want to get a pannier rack to carry my stuff. I have a Boardman Road Comp (Racing bike which isn't compatible with rack) and I'm not sure what to do. I would like to keep my budget as low as possible.

I'm not sure if a seatpost rack will do as I may need to carry more then 20lbs..

Tubus aren't the cheapest racks but they have a few accessories for fitting their racks to bikes without mounts.http://tubus.com/en/spares-and-accessories
Wiggle sells their products online.
P-Clamps are a cheap way of attaching a rack to seat stays and there are seatpost clamps that are made for attaching racks to.

Tubus aren't the cheapest racks but they have a few accessories for fitting their racks to bikes without mounts.http://tubus.com/en/spares-and-accessories
Wiggle sells their products online.
P-Clamps are a cheap way of attaching a rack to seat stays and there are seatpost clamps that are made for attaching racks to.

I've looked at the tubus racks and they are way above my budget..are p clips safe? Many people complain that they damage the bike. Could they withstand the weight of a rack with 2 panniers? Would I need P clips to attach the top end to my bike? (sorry I'm completely iliterate in this field).

You also might want to consider getting a handlebar bag and a large saddlebag, and forget about using racks and panniers.

I was looking for a big saddle bag (20l+) but I couldn't find any. Do you have suggestions?

Edit: I found the carradice super c 23l but I'm don't think it'll end up cheaper if I take a bar bag too..don't they change the centre of gravity of the bike? I can't imagine it being as enjoyable to ride with..

go for the Axiom Streamliner or Streamliner DLX with p clamps.Instead of panniers that sit low and will require them to sit too far backto prevent heel strike get two 13liter dry bags and strap them off at the the sides and top rail with another bag tied to your saddle and the top of the rack. This will enable you to keep the weight as close to you. Then configure a compression stuff bag tied to the handlebars. Rely on pockets and top of back rack bag for frequently needed items. The streamliner with it's third strut will keep the dry bags from falling into the wheel. If you work with webbing, fastek buckles and bungie you can have a solid setup that won't flop around but you have to be vigilant to not let any loose straps fly into the wheels. Panniers aren't the only way to carry stuff.

Wow LeeG thanks for the advice. It's a great idea, but Im looking for something which would be straightforward to set up and carry off the bike easily too (hence panniers). I also want something that I'd be able to use for commuting. Your idea it'll be great for touring but not for short rides too . Thanks though.